Imran promises change in AJK

Ag INP

BAGH: Addressing a mammoth public meeting here, Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday promised that he would bring a change in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) like in Pakistan.

Linking his party’s struggle for the future of the country, young generations and rule of law, Imran declared that the people in Kashmir ‘would never accept, liars, cowards and corrupt as their leaders’.

Imran said countries with rule of law for all its citizens — rich and poor — alike had achieved progress and were prosperous whereas nations pursuing two different sets of rules had doomed.

Imran said no nation on the earth could aspire to rise unless there was a uniform set of laws for the people.

“Those nations were destroyed who had no regard for the rule of law or who had different rules for the rich and the poor,” he said, regretting that in Pakistan, the justice system could not net the big fish.

Amid clapping and slogans by a huge gathering, the prime minister referred to the creation of the State of Madina by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in which no one was regarded as above the law.

In an apparent reference to Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, the prime minister said those leaders could not fight the case of the country who had their properties, wealth and business abroad.

He said he would live and die for Pakistan, as he had no stakes outside the country, otherwise he would have never replied to the US ‘absolutely not’.

On the other hand, the other rulers would have allowed drone attacks inside the country, he added.

The prime minister said big looters had gathered in the country as they wanted NRO.

“They want me to forgive them for their corruption and desire one set of laws for the rich and others for the poor,” he added.

The prime minister said in countries with uniform rule of law, it had never been thought that a plunderer would ask for pardon.

In a veiled reference to Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister said the Supreme Court had declared him guilty, a court of law had convicted and sentenced him, but the former prime minister produced fake medical documents to flee the country.

“No such acting had ever been performed in Bollywood,” he added.

The prime minister opined that a country with a begging bowl could not stand on its feet.

He said under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, the country would be able to extend financial support to the poor countries.

The prime minister said in the state of Madina, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made it clear that the previous nations were destroyed as they had no regard for the rule of law.

“Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) also inculcated a spirit of self-respect and ego in the downtrodden people who later rose to prominence in the world,” he said, adding they had not been influenced by the two mighty powerful Roman and Persian empires.

He said for the first time in world history, Riasat-e-Madina took responsibility of the weaker segments of the society including the poor, widows, orphans.

The prime minister said his government was also taking similar steps for a welfare state.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had given health cards to all its citizens whereas the Punjab province would extend such a facility to all the residents by the end of this year.

By the end of this year, the health insurance would be given to all residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Under such a facility, each family would get free of cost medical treatment worth Rs1 million, he added.

For the first time in the country’s history, the prime minister said, they were facilitating the provision of loans by the banks, so that the poor people and low-income groups could have their own houses through easy installments.

The prime minister also informed that by the end of the year, they would be launching the “Kamyab Pakistan programme” under which the poor families would get interest-free loans for starting their small business.

“Each member in a family would get such a facility; besides, technical education would be imparted to them, especially to womenfolk, who could earn their livelihood while sitting at home due to the use of the latest technology.”

Imran said his government was emulating the model of Riasat-e-Madina in which the poor people were lifted — a model also followed by China.

The prime minister while enumerating the steps taken for the welfare state, referred to setting up of Panahgah, where the lodging and dining facilities were provided free to the labourers and daily wage earners, so that they could save their daily income and send them back to their families.

He saluted the brave struggle of the Kashmiri people against unabated Indian brutalities and oppression in the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

He said people in IIOJ&K were facing inhuman cruelties while offering unprecedented sacrifices for their legitimate rights like that of Burhan Wani.

“The whole world is witnessing your great sacrifices and spirit and praying for you,” he maintained.

The prime minister said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi through illegal and unilateral steps of August 5, never thought that the spirit of Kashmiri people could not be bogged down.

The RSS-BJP ideology, he said, posed a real threat to India itself.

The ruling junta did not recognize all the minorities living in India as their citizens.

The prime minister assured that he would continue raising his voice for their rights at all the global fora.

He further said Pakistan and Kashmir were tied with each other upon that ideology which had been a basis for the creation of Pakistan.

INP adds: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Saturday warned the government against stealing the upcoming election in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Addressing a public rally in Islamgarh area of Mirpur, she said neither this was 2018 nor was this the old PML-N adding that the Kashmiri people will not leave if anyone tried to rob their votes.

Maryam also mentioned that Azad Kashmir had announced its decision before the election adding that Kashmiris had expressed their support for Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming election on July 25.

She maintained that the PTI’s minister could not enter Kashmir and urged voters to vote on July 25 and safeguard their vote.

Maryam said her party had won the Daska by-election despite rigging.

“Imran Khan is initiating his election campaign from his ATM’s constituency. He is starting his election campaign from the Bagh area because he had found an ATM there,” she said.

Syed Abbas Gardezi from Muzaffarabad adds: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) central leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari Saturday said the PPP leadership was ready for supreme sacrifice for the rights of Kashmiri people and democracy in Kashmir.

Aseefa was received by a mammoth gathering on her way to Patikka to address an election gathering of the PPP at the Kohala Bridge that links Kashmir with Pakistan.

In her brief address, Aseefa said Kashmir was like a paradise and was Benazir (unmatched).

“Our relation with Kashmir goes back three generations. We have inherited love for Kashmir. The PPP has always worked for the prosperity of Kashmir; it was with Kashmir in the past and it is with them today and will stand for Kashmir in future, she said.

She asked the PPP workers to go door to door and tell people that the PPP leaders had sacrificed their lives for the rights of people.

She said the PPP always worked for Kashmir and her father President Asif Ali Zardari developed Kashmir.

“Now Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will become the voice of Kashmir and defend their rights.”

Aseefa said some people were making tall claims after coming here but when Modi attacked Kashmir, they were nowhere to be seen. He could only say "what can he do".

“It was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who had said where Kashmiris will shed their sweat, she will shed her blood,” she continued.

Aseefa said all the promises made by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be fulfilled.

She asked people to come out on 25 July and vote for the arrow which was the symbol of every Kashmiri.